Systems and methods for scheduling the operation of building resources
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method configured to enable user control over scheduling of physical target devices via a graphical user interface, the method including:
- providing a graphical user interface that is configured to;
(i) enable a user to select one or more building resources from an available set of predefined building resources, wherein each set of predefined building resources is representative of a set of discrete physical hardware devices at distributed locations in a building, wherein each target device is capable of adopting at least an activated operational state and a deactivated operational state;
(ii) for the selected one or more building resources, enabling the user to define an operational schedule, wherein defining the operational schedule includes accepting user input representative of times during a specified period for which each of the selected one or more building resources is to be activated, wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to define, for a given building resource;
an operational schedule for a first day; and
a recurrence parameter, wherein the recurrence parameter is representative of a category of day types, wherein defining of the recurrence parameter causes automated defining of operational schedules for a plurality of further days of the defined day type;
in response to information inputted by the user via the graphical user interface defining an operational schedule, executing an automated process including the following steps;
(i) for each of the selected one or more building resources, identifying the hardware devices of which the building resource is representative;
(ii) for each identified hardware device, accessing a repository of scheduling protocols thereby to determine, for each hardware device;
(a) data representative of a communications protocol defining a data format and communications channel associated with the hardware device, wherein the data representative of the communications protocol and communications channel is configured to enable a scheduling module to transmit scheduling instructions to the hardware device; and
(b) data representative of a schedule storage protocol, wherein the schedule storage protocol defines a manner in which scheduling information is able to be stored locally by the target device;
(iii) for each identified hardware device, operating the scheduling module providing one or more signals in accordance with the communications protocol for that hardware device based on the data representative of a schedule storage protocol, such that the hardware device is programmed to adopt its activated operational state whenever a user-defined operational schedule for the building resource of which that hardware device a part defines that the more building resources is to be activated;
wherein providing the one or more signals includes periodically reprogramming internal scheduling memory storage for a given hardware device in the case that the schedule storage protocol defining a manner in which scheduling information is able to be stored locally by the target device defines an ability to store scheduling information for a maximum time period that is less than a total time period spanned by the defined operational schedule.
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Abstract
Described herein are systems and methods for scheduling the operation of building resources. In overview, some embodiments provide a central interface for allowing the scheduling of a large number of devices within a building, irrespective of the manufacturer or scheduling requirements of the individual devices. For example, one embodiment provides, a software product that executes on a processor for allowing a user to submit scheduling preference in relation to one or more building resources. The software package analyses and applies these preferences across the devices described by the building resource or resources.
28 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method configured to enable user control over scheduling of physical target devices via a graphical user interface, the method including:
providing a graphical user interface that is configured to; (i) enable a user to select one or more building resources from an available set of predefined building resources, wherein each set of predefined building resources is representative of a set of discrete physical hardware devices at distributed locations in a building, wherein each target device is capable of adopting at least an activated operational state and a deactivated operational state; (ii) for the selected one or more building resources, enabling the user to define an operational schedule, wherein defining the operational schedule includes accepting user input representative of times during a specified period for which each of the selected one or more building resources is to be activated, wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to define, for a given building resource; an operational schedule for a first day; and a recurrence parameter, wherein the recurrence parameter is representative of a category of day types, wherein defining of the recurrence parameter causes automated defining of operational schedules for a plurality of further days of the defined day type; in response to information inputted by the user via the graphical user interface defining an operational schedule, executing an automated process including the following steps; (i) for each of the selected one or more building resources, identifying the hardware devices of which the building resource is representative; (ii) for each identified hardware device, accessing a repository of scheduling protocols thereby to determine, for each hardware device;
(a) data representative of a communications protocol defining a data format and communications channel associated with the hardware device, wherein the data representative of the communications protocol and communications channel is configured to enable a scheduling module to transmit scheduling instructions to the hardware device; and
(b) data representative of a schedule storage protocol, wherein the schedule storage protocol defines a manner in which scheduling information is able to be stored locally by the target device;(iii) for each identified hardware device, operating the scheduling module providing one or more signals in accordance with the communications protocol for that hardware device based on the data representative of a schedule storage protocol, such that the hardware device is programmed to adopt its activated operational state whenever a user-defined operational schedule for the building resource of which that hardware device a part defines that the more building resources is to be activated;
wherein providing the one or more signals includes periodically reprogramming internal scheduling memory storage for a given hardware device in the case that the schedule storage protocol defining a manner in which scheduling information is able to be stored locally by the target device defines an ability to store scheduling information for a maximum time period that is less than a total time period spanned by the defined operational schedule.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer system configured to perform a configured to enable user control over scheduling of physical target devices via a graphical user interface, the method including:
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providing a graphical user interface that is configured to; (i) enable a user to select one or more building resources from an available set of predefined building resources, wherein each set of predefined building resources is representative of a set of discrete physical hardware devices at distributed locations in a building, wherein each target device is capable of adopting at least an activated operational state and a deactivated operational state; (ii) for the selected one or more building resources, enabling the user to define an operational schedule, wherein defining the operational schedule includes accepting user input representative of times during a specified period for which each of the selected one or more building resources is to be activated, wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to define, for a given building resource; an operational schedule for a first day; and a recurrence parameter, wherein the recurrence parameter is representative of a category of day types, wherein defining of the recurrence parameter causes automated defining of operational schedules for a plurality of further days of the defined day type; in response to information inputted by the user via the graphical user interface defining an operational schedule, executing an automated process including the following steps; (i) for each of the selected one or more building resources, identifying the hardware devices of which the building resource is representative; (ii) for each identified hardware device, accessing a repository of scheduling protocols thereby to determine, for each hardware device; (a) data representative of a communications protocol defining a data format and communications channel associated with the hardware device, wherein the data representative of the communications protocol and communications channel is configured to enable a scheduling module to transmit scheduling instructions to the hardware device; and (b) data representative of a schedule storage protocol, wherein the schedule storage protocol defines a manner in which scheduling information is able to be stored locally by the target device; (iii) for each identified hardware device, operating the scheduling module providing one or more signals in accordance with the communications protocol for that hardware device based on the data representative of a schedule storage protocol, such that the hardware device is programmed to adopt its activated operational state whenever a user-defined operational schedule for the building resource of which that hardware device a part defines that the more building resources is to be activated;
wherein providing the one or more signals includes periodically reprogramming internal scheduling memory storage for a given hardware device in the case that the schedule storage protocol defining a manner in which scheduling information is able to be stored locally by the target device defines an ability to store scheduling information for a maximum time period that is less than a total time period spanned by the defined operational schedule. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification